What are surfactants?
Posted August 22, 2024
Answer
Surfactants are chemical compounds that play a crucial role in reducing the surface tension between different substances, such as two liquids, a liquid and a solid, or a gas and a liquid. They are organic compounds known for their amphiphilic nature, meaning they have both hydrophobic (water-repelling) and hydrophilic (water-attracting) parts. A common example is detergent. When detergent is added to a liquid, the surface tension is reduced which then increases the spreading and wetting properties of the surfactant.
Additional resources
Surfactants in water and wastewater (greywater): Environmental toxicity and treatment options
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